Polished rod liner extension

ABSTRACT

A tubular extension is secured to the upper portion of a polish rod liner and suspends it from a carrier bar. Improved sealing is provided by a resilient lining within a portion of the extension.

[ 51 May 16, 1972 United States Patent Gault et al.

[54] POLISHED ROD LINER EXTENSION [72] Inventors: Robert H. Gault,Midland, Tex.; Robert F.

Dyer........................................166/84 Joy, Bethlehem, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation Primary Examiner-WilliamWayne Attorney-Joseph J. OKeefe [22] Filed: July 2, 1970 ABSTRACT Appl.No.:

A tubular extension is secured to the u pper portion of a polish r bar.Improved sealing ...l66/84 rod liner and suspends it from a carrie......E2lb 33/04 is provided by a resilient lining within a portion ofthe exten- 166/84; 74/ 108 sion.

[52] 11.8. [51] Int. [58] Field 14 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 POLISHEDROD LINER EXTENSION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION and necessary where -aso-called flexible pumping strand,

which consists of a wire rope or strand with or without an outer plasticor other corrosion resistant coating, is used in place of theconventional sucker rod string.

Sucker rods and flexible pumping strand both customarily make use of acarrier bar clamp to support the weight of the fluid column in the wellplus the weight of the sucker rod string or flexible pumping strandextending down a well from a carrier bar. A packing is conventionallypositionedat the top of the polish rod liner to seal the polish rodliner to the sucker rod string or flexible pumping strand extending upthrough the polish rod liner. This packing often requires frequentreadjustment by tightening its packing gland to maintain an oil tightseal. The carrier bar clamp, however, has customarily rested on top ofthe packing gland clamp so that the packing gland clamp could notreadily either be turned to tighten the packing or removed to replacethe packing. This customary arrangement necessitated jacking up thecarrier bar clamp to remove the weight from the packing clamp every timethe packing was to be adjusted or replaced. In addition, the customaryarrangement made it difficult to obtain a satisfactory seal between thepacking and the surface of flexible pumping strand because of the unevenor somewhat ridged or spirally corrugated surface of conventionalpumping strand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention obviates the difficultiesof the prior art by providing an extension for the polish rod liner.This extension fits into the carrier bar slot underthe carrier bar clampand extends downwardly from the carrier bar to connect to the polish rodliner and contact the polish rod liner packing. Within the extensionthere is a lining, preferably resilient, which effects a seal betweenthe inside of the extension and the pumping string extendingtherethrough. Where such resilient lining is provided the extension willpreferably be provided with a smooth outer surface and will extendthrough the packing of the polish rod liner to facilitate sealing bypresenting a smooth surface against which the packing of the polish rodliner packing may make a tight seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates the customary construction of a polishrod liner arrangement of the prior art. In this FIGURE and in the otherFIGURES there is shown a cross section of a carrier bar 11 which issupported by two bridles 13 from a conventional horsehead, not shown. Apolish rod liner 15 extends through packing 17in well head 19. Otherpacking 21 is positioned in packing body 23 formed as an integral partof polish rod liner 15.

A carrier bar clamp 25, one half of which is shown in the FIGURES of thedrawing, is clamped onto a flexible pumping strand 27, which ispreferably plastic coated, extending present invention, parthrough thecarrier bar clamp 25 upwardly to a reel or the like, not shown,supported upon or adjacent to the horsehead. The flexible pumping strand27 extends downwardly from the carrier bar clamp 25 through the polishrod liner 15 and the well head 19 and thence down the well, not shown.Carrier bar clamp 25 supports the entire weight of the flexible pumpingstrand 27 upon carrier bar 11 through the structure of the packing body23 and packing clamp 29. Said clamp 29 is screwed into packing body 23and compresses packing 21 against the surface of the flexible pumpingstrand 27. A packing gland 31 may be conventionally interposed toprovide a bearing surface between the packing clamp 29 and the packing21.

A'plurality of heavy duty set screws 33 serve to clamp the packing clamp29, and through it the polish rod liner 15, to the flexible pumpingstrand 27 through the action of clamping jaws 30 which contact theflexible pumping strand 27 Since the pumping strand may extend severalthousand feet or more down the well, it will be understood that in thearrangement shown in FIG. 1 a very considerable weight will be supportedby the carrier bar clamp 25 bearing upon the packing clamp 29. The greatweight upon packing clamp 29 tends to jam it within packing body 23 sothat it is difficult to move the packing clamp 29 relative to thepacking body 23. Since it is frequently necessary to either replace thepacking 21 or to compress the packing 21 against flexible pumping strand27 to prevent oil from leaking past the seal, it is necessary toperiodically jack up the carrier bar clamp 25 to remove the weight ofthe flexible pumping strand from the packing clamp 29 so that it may beremoved or rotated. Such jacking requires additional equipment, is timeconsuming and interferes with production.

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of polish rod liner extension of thisinvention which represents a simple but effective solution to theproblem of replacing or compressing the packing 21 about the flexiblepumping strand 27 without jacking up the carrier bar clamp 25 orotherwise removing the weight of the flexible pumping strand 27 from thecarrier bar 11. A polish rod liner extension 35, having an upper flange37 and a lower threaded portion 39 is positioned between the carrier bar11 and the packing body 23 of the polish rod liner 15. The upper flange37 of the polish rod liner extension 35 is positioned under the carrierbar clamp 25 against the top surface of the carrier bar 11. The lowerthreaded portion 39 is threaded into the packing body 23 of the polishrod liner 15 in place of the packing clamp 29 shown in FIG. 1 tocompress the packing 2l'by downward movement of the packing gland 31.Since the packing body 23 is located below the carrier bar 11 it may beeasily turned relative to the lower threaded portion 39 of the polishrod liner extension 35 by means of conventional wrench flats 41 providedon the packing body 23. The packing 21 may thus be replaced orcompressed against the flexible pumping strand 27 by merely rotating thepacking body 23 with respect to extension 35. This obviates thenecessity of the time consuming job of removing the weight of theflexible pumping strand and carrier bar clamp from the flange 37.

In FIG. 3 there is shown an improved embodiment of the polish rod linerextension of FIG. 2. The polish rod liner extension 43 of FIG. 3 isconstructed in three sections: an extension section 45, a strand packingsection 47 and a polish rod section 49. The extension section 45 has anupper flange 51 whichcorresponds to the upper flange 37 of the polishrod liner embodiment shown in FIG. 2. This flange 51 is positioned undercarrier bar clamp 25. The lower end of extension section 45 is clampedwithin or otherwise secured to the packing section 47 which is linedwith a resilient packing material 53, such as stiff foam rubber or softrubber or neoprene. One or more heavy set screws 46 as shown in dottedoutline can serve as means for clamping extension 45 to packing section47. The packing section 47 is made in two halves which are securedtogether by suitable fastening means such as bolts 55 passing throughthe flanges 56 of each half.

The two piece construction facilitates placement over the flexiblepumping strand 27. When the two halves of packing section 47 are placedover the strand 27 and clamped tightly together by bolts 55 therelatively soft packing material 53 effects a seal between the inside ofthe packing section 47 and the surface of the strand 27.

it is highly desirable for the strand 27 to be plastic coated in orderto prevent the entrance of corrosive fluids into the strand. When thestrand 27 has an outer plastic covering, this outer covering often has aridged or spirally corrugated surface corresponding to the underlyingouter surface of the strand 27 which in turn is comprised of the surfacecontours of the component wires of the strand. Such a ridged surface isextremely difficult to effect a seal with by means of the usual hollowpolish rod packing. The relatively soft packing material 53, however,makes a very effective seal with such an uneven strand surface.

The polish rod section 49 of the hollow polish rod extension is shown inFIG. 3 with a lining of packing material 53. The packing need not extendinto this section, however, if there are no scams or openings in section49 to allow the oil from the well to escape. The outer surface of polishrod section 49 is smooth and the section is dimensioned to fit down intothe packing 21 of the packing body 23. The smooth outer surface ofpolish rod section 49 provides an ideal surface with which the packing21 can form an effective oil tight seal. Polish rod section 49 isclamped within packing body 23 and packing 21 by means of the heavy-dutyset screws 33 of packing clamp 29 which engage the outer surface ofpolish rod section 49.

It will be seen in FIG. 3 that oil is prevented from escape from thewell along the outside surface of the polish rod liner by the well headpacking 17, from escape along the outside surface of the polish rodsection 49 of the polish rod liner extension 43 by the packing 21, andfrom escape through the inside of the polish rod liner extension 43 bythe packing 53. The packing 53 can be compressed by tightening bolts 55on strand packing section 47. The packing 21 can be compressed orreplaced without removing the weight of the flexible pumping strand 27from carrier bar 11 by either releasing set-screws 33 and rotatingpacking clamp 29 in packing body 23, or, alternatively, by rotatingpacking body 23 and polish rod liner 15 by the use of wrench flats 41 onthe surface of packing body 23.

It will be desirable if not only the strand packing clamp section 47 ofpolish rod liner extension 43 but also the extension section 45 and thepolish rod section 49 are each comprised of two opposing half or othersections to facilitate placement about the flexible pumping strand 27 orother type of sucker rod string. In some cases it may be beneficial ifthe abutting edges of these half sections interlock with each other insome suitable tongue and groove arrangement to provide an oil tight sealalong the edges ofthe sections.

We claim:

1. An operative assemblage of oil well pumping apparatus comprising:

a. a pump actuating string extending into an oil well through packing ina well head,

b. reciprocating actuating means for said pump actuating string,

c. a polish rod liner assembly surrounding said actuating string as itpasses through the said packing in the well head,

(1. packing means associated with said polish rod liner assembly toprevent oil from passing up between the actuating string and the polishrod liner, and

e. extension means removably secured to the polish rod liner at one endand operatively secured to said reciprocating actuating means at theopposite end so as to support said polish rod liner assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said extension means of (e)surrounds said pump actuating string.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said extension means is operativelysecured to said actuating means by a flange means disposed at the top ofsaid extension means adapted for clamping between a carrier bar andcarrier bar clamp associated with said actuating means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said extension means is of generallytubular form.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pump actuating string iscomprised of a flexible pumping strand.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising:

f. packing means disposed in said extension means of (e) to prevent oilfrom passing up between the extension means and the pump actuatingstring.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the lower portion of said extensionsmeans is generally cylindrical and is adapted to extend at leastpartially through the hollow polish rod packing means of (d) whilesurrounding said pumping string.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cylindrical lower portion ofsaid extension means has a smooth surface to facilitate sealing withsaid packing of (d).

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pump actuating string iscomprised of a flexible pumping strand.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said flexible pumping strand iscoated with a layer of plastic material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said packing means of (f) disposedin said extension means is comprised of a somewhat resilient packingmaterial.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the portion of the extension meanscontaining the said resilient packing material is forrned in two partswith means to clamp said parts together to effect sealing between saidflexible pumping strand and said resilient packing material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said entire extension member isformed in two portions to facilitate placement about said flexiblepumping strand without threading said strand through said extension.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said extension means isoperatively secured to said actuating means by a flange means disposedat the top of said extension means adapted for clamping between acarrier bar and carrier bar clamp associated with said actuating means.

1. An operative assemblage of oil well pumping apparatus comprising: a.a pump actuating string extending into an oil well through packing in awell head, b. reciprocating actuating means for said pump actuatingstring, c. a polish rod liner assembly surrounding said actuating stringas it passes through the said packing in tHe well head, d. packing meansassociated with said polish rod liner assembly to prevent oil frompassing up between the actuating string and the polish rod liner, and e.extension means removably secured to the polish rod liner at one end andoperatively secured to said reciprocating actuating means at theopposite end so as to support said polish rod liner assembly.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said extension means of (e) surrounds saidpump actuating string.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein saidextension means is operatively secured to said actuating means by aflange means disposed at the top of said extension means adapted forclamping between a carrier bar and carrier bar clamp associated withsaid actuating means.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said extensionmeans is of generally tubular form.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 whereinsaid pump actuating string is comprised of a flexible pumping strand. 6.The apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: f. packing meansdisposed in said extension means of (e) to prevent oil from passing upbetween the extension means and the pump actuating string.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein the lower portion of said extensions meansis generally cylindrical and is adapted to extend at least partiallythrough the hollow polish rod packing means of (d) while surroundingsaid pumping string.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein saidcylindrical lower portion of said extension means has a smooth surfaceto facilitate sealing with said packing of (d).
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 8 wherein said pump actuating string is comprised of a flexiblepumping strand.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said flexiblepumping strand is coated with a layer of plastic material.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein said packing means of (f) disposed in saidextension means is comprised of a somewhat resilient packing material.12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the portion of the extension meanscontaining the said resilient packing material is formed in two partswith means to clamp said parts together to effect sealing between saidflexible pumping strand and said resilient packing material.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein said entire extension member is formed intwo portions to facilitate placement about said flexible pumping strandwithout threading said strand through said extension.
 14. The apparatusof claim 13 wherein said extension means is operatively secured to saidactuating means by a flange means disposed at the top of said extensionmeans adapted for clamping between a carrier bar and carrier bar clampassociated with said actuating means.